A quirky new group is all set to hit the wrong note as it launches in Newcastle.

And in doing so it could well appeal to anyone who loves singing - yet can’t hold a tune.

A Tuneless Choir is making its debut in the region with an invitation for members to “sing like no-one is listening”.

“That’s what I’ll be doing,” says organiser Minty Nicol who first heard of the Tuneless Choir concept on TV and decided she wanted to bring it north.

The retired scientist, from Gosforth, said: “The One Show showed a choir specifically for people who can’t sing and I saw how enjoyable it was, not just for the participants but for the presenters, and I thought it was great that anybody could go along and sing their heart out.”

The next day Minty contacted Nadine Cooper, the brainchild behind the original Nottingham-based choir, who is delighted at how her idea is catching on and says the North East will be its northernmost off-shoot.

With Nadine’s support, Minty set about putting into action her plan for “Tuneless Choir Newcastle”.

The Tuneless Choir at St. Thomas The Martyr Church in Newcastle. From left, Ashleigh Lowes, Minty Nicol and Peter Nico (Image: DAVE CHARLTON)

She has now found a choir leader in Ashleigh Lowes who has a BA in community music and works at Sage Gateshead as a project musician.

They pair have been testing the waters by enlisting their families in a trial of bad singing.

With a little coaching courtesy of Asleigh - although that’s not the point of the choir, insists Minty - they actually sounded much better by the end when they finished off with Frank Sinatra hit “My Way”. “I don’t know if we were just tired!” said Minty.

On first discussing her plans, there was a “marmite” reaction from people, she said; ranging from those who dismissed it outright as not a proper choir to others who thought it fantastic and wanting to join.

“It has the quirk factor,” said Minty.

And now that they are ready to launch their ear-splitting group, the hope is that other like-minded people will join them.